Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend [Black Vinyl LP]

Four Columbia University graduates blend Afropop rhythms, chamber pop arrangements, and indie rock sensibility on Vampire Weekend, the self-titled debut that arrived in January 2008 via XL Recordings. Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio recorded the album independently across various locations including dorm rooms, apartments, and Tomson's family barn in New Jersey, with Batmanglij producing the entire record on his MacBook. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and quickly earned Platinum certifications in both the US and UK, establishing the band as a defining voice of late 2000s indie rock.

The 11-track album clocks in at just over 34 minutes, packing remarkable density into its concise runtime. Breakout single "A-Punk" bursts with infectious energy in barely over two minutes, while "Oxford Comma" cleverly weaves together high and low culture references with jangly guitars and Afrobeat percussion. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" showcases the band's unique fusion of preppy East Coast narratives with African-influenced guitar work, and "Mansard Roof" opens the album with organ flourishes and harpsichord touches that set the tone for the band's baroque-meets-modern aesthetic. Throughout, Koenig's vocals deliver esoteric lyrics about everything from punctuation to New England summers, all wrapped in irresistibly catchy melodies that work equally well as pop songs or objects of literary analysis.

This black vinyl pressing captures the bright, crisp production that made the album sound distinct from its indie rock contemporaries. The LP delivers clean separation of instruments, from the prominent harpsichord and organ to the intricate Afropop-inspired guitar lines and punchy percussion. The single vinyl format includes a printed inner sleeve, preserving the album's compact vision and immediate impact.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: "A-Punk," "Oxford Comma," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
• Pressing details: Single LP with printed inner sleeve, produced by Rostam Batmanglij
• Genre/style: Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Afropop, Chamber Pop
• UPC: 634904031817

Ranked among the greatest debut albums of the 21st century and included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Vampire Weekend remains a landmark of inventive, genre-blending indie rock. This vinyl edition lets you experience the album's playful sophistication and rhythmic innovation in its full analog warmth.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Mansard Roof
2. Oxford Comma
3. A-Punk
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
5. M79

Side B:

1. Campus
2. Bryn
3. One (Blake's Got A New Face)
4. I Stand Corrected
5. Walcott
6. The Kids Don't Stand A Chance